Gol orders 60 737 Max aircraft

Brazilian low-cost carrier Gol has placed an order for 60 Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft, to be delivered from 2018.

The new aircraft will help the airline renew its fleet, says the carrier, which adds that it will be the South American launch customer for the 737 Max. Gol is an all-737 operator.

"The decision to order the Boeing 737 Max is in line with our commitment to maintaining a modern and safe fleet that will allow us to sustain our competitive advantage in the future," says Gol chief executive Paulo Kakinoff. "The new aircraft will have one of the best cost-benefit ratios in the market due to its unique operational economy, so it is also fully compatible with our low-cost model."

Noting its relationship with Boeing, the airline says it is working with the airframer to launch a 737 Max short field performance aircraft. The airline had previously worked with Boeing to develop a 737-800NG to operate on short runways, and received the first of that aircraft type in 2006.